Paige Smathers is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, based out of Salt Lake City, Utah. She’s also the host of the Nutrition Matters Podcast (highly recommend). And she works with clients to find ways to make peace with food and body in a weight-neutral, non-dieting way. Her mission is to provide a safe space and to support each client to find positive solutions to the questions and struggles they’re experiencing with food and/or body image.

IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:

How dieting cultivates a negative relationship with food and our bodies & how this behavior mimics that of being in an abusive relationship

Mindless eating: or eating when we aren’t necessarily hungry or to satisfy a craving

Disconnecting from ourselves through food, using food as a way to numb

For someone in a larger body there can be an additional layer of shame or guilt about honoring their hunger

Every single person – no matter what your body looks like – deserves the right to leave a meal feeling satisfied and energized.

Why both Paige and I do the work we do. There is a level of altruism where we want people to change, the culture to change, for people to feel safe in their bodies, for people to celebrate, love, and honor their bodies. She admits how she wants this also selfishly for her daughters

How we can still choose to love others whether or not we agree with their values or beliefs. Conversely we are still worthy of love whether people agree or disagree with our values. This idea that you can love or be loved by others whether you hold the same beliefs.

Judgement she experiences when others find out she’s a dietitian

The difference between mindful eating and intuitive eating

Letting go of food rules and the fear that comes with that. Challenging these food rules. Getting curious about them. Where do these food rules lead me? And every time I make more rules what happens?

How food rules can in effect create MORE chaos and feeling even more OUT OF CONTROL

Growing up in a family where parents often express disgust/ negative emotions towards people in larger bodies – how this can be internalized by a child to mean “if I look like that my parents will feel negatively towards me” thus to avoid being on the receiving end of such negativity children will internalize these messages as “being in a larger body is BAD”

Paige shares her practical tips on how she maintains a healthy relationship with food in her present life

BAADER-MEINHOF PHENOMENON: When you learn about something, you start noticing it everywhere: so you find what you’re looking for